London Neighbourhoods: Our Guide to Shoreditch

By Megan Hills

See the highlights of one of London's trendiest neighbourhoods with our guide to Shoreditch

Shoreditch is the beating cultural heart of East London and never fails to capture the hearts of locals and travellers alike. This vibrant neighbourhood overflows with creativity, colour and some of the most interesting people you'll see in London. With so much to see and do, here's a quick guide to Shoreditch for travellers.

Image via Queen of Hoxton facebook

Queen of Hoxton

What's a London neighbourhood without a local watering hole? The Queen of Hoxton is one of Shoreditch's stalwarts, spanning over several floors and a beautiful rooftop that fills up quickly on a crisp summer's day. With ping pong tables, crazy rooftop installations (which have at one point included a gigantic tipi, rainbow tower and a graffitied car for photo ops) as well as alcoholic slushies, it buzzes with creative energy and the music is always on point. You'll even here the occasional Cockney rhyming slang, which will be an experience unto itself.

Breaking news! #beigelbake #saltybeef now with #pickles!!! 😱😋👌 #bricklane #innovation

A post shared by Solaris100 (@solaris100) on Apr 4, 2017 at 5:42pm PDT

Beigel Bake

Don't mistake this Jewish bakery for the yellow one next door - this famous 24 hour bakery can be recognised by its white luminous sign and blue lettering. Best known for their hearty salt beef bagels, their recipe consists of a thick slice of succulent beef, a crunchy pickle and a generous helping of mustard slathered across a bagel. Always a favourite with the late night party crowd, they also serve sweet treats like apple strudels and cheesecake.

To be continued #graffiti #wallpainting #art #bricklane #london 🎩🌂

A post shared by @vvdvvdvoo on Apr 7, 2017 at 2:52am PDT

Graffiti

Shoreditch is littered with graffiti by some of the best street artists in the world and you'll regularly see tour groups stopping and staring at some of its more notable works. With the likes of Stik, Otto Schade and others transforming the neighbourhood's walls, one of the most iconic pieces of the neighbourhood is Belgian artist ROA's gigantic crane which symbolises the strong Bengali community in the area. Find out more about Shoreditch's street art here.

Sexy cinema Sundays 😍 #sohohouse #portobello #electriccinema

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Electric Cinema

Make your movie night a spectacular one at Electric Cinema, an indie theatre where moviegoers can relax in couches, blankets and a cheeky glass of wine while watching blockbusters or little known arthouse films. If you're looking to save a couple of quid, pick the seats around the edges that have a slightly angled view as they're available for a reduced price.

Small but mighty! 🍔💪🏽@bleeckerburger

A post shared by The Restaurant Society (@rest.society) on Apr 6, 2017 at 11:19am PDT

Indulge in Shoreditch's fantastic street food selections

Shoreditch teems with talented street chefs and street food markets, which makes choosing a midday snack something of a challenge. Try one of Bleecker Street's incredible cheeseburgers which includes a layer of black pudding for a bit of a twist at Old Spitalfields Market, Japanese hot dogs at Pump Street Market or grab a pint of cider at BOXPARK while relaxing on its picnic benches on a sunny day. See our full guide to London street food markets here.

Image via Rokit Vintage facebook

Dress like a Londoner at Shoreditch's many vintage and boutique stores

Shoreditch is well-known for its fashion forward residents and its eclectic clothing stores are always a sartorial adventure. Whether you're combing through the racks for a bargain find at Rok It Vintage, Blitz or Absolute Vintage or discovering the pop up boutiques at BOXPARK, you're sure to find a unique piece that will be the envy of all your friends.

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Royal Albert Hall
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Royal Albert Hall Facts You Need to Know

From Nina Simone to One Direction, the Royal Albert Hall has withstood the test of time. It's persisted as one of London's most exciting performance venues, right up there with the best. This concert hall is an iconic building, a true gem in London's cultural crown. Designated a Grade I Historic Building, there's no surprise that the Royal Albert Hall is brimming with interesting facts and history. That alone is a fact. But there are many more to discover. Here are our favourite Royal Albert Hall facts! When was the Royal Albert Hall built? The first year In the Royal Albert Hall's first year, it put on just 36 shows. While it may seem hard to believe now, the venue opened its doors to the public in 1871. However, the growth of its events calendar has been phenomenal. These days, it hosts roughly 400 events a year. That's over ten times the shows. Well done, Albert. Quite the jump. Where is the Royal Albert Hall? If you're new to London and wondering where the Royal Albert Hall is, you can find it in South Kensington, right next to Hyde Park. Perfect for a little greenery before or after your visit and close to plenty of iconic London museums, like the Design Museum and the V&A. How old is it? As one of London's oldest and most revered performance spaces, the Royal Albert Hall has been a key fixture of British entertainment. In 2021, it celebrated its 150th birthday. The celebrations involved a massive project called The Great Excavation. In a nutshell, a huge renovation project got underway. However, unlike the ever-rising London skyline, Albert will benefit from a gargantuan basement. What is the Royal Albert Hall's record-breaking feature? The gigantic glass dome that covers Royal Albert Hall spans over 20,000 square feet. It was designed by the team that conceived the glass roof of St Pancras station. However, the Royal Albert Hall was much more ambitious. The dome still stands as the largest unsupported glass dome in the world. They first built a test dome in Ardwick before constructing it in London. During WW1 and WW2, the Royal Albert Hall was used as a landmark for war pilots. Since Albert has such an eye-catching roof, enemy pilots used it to reorient themselves while bombing the capital. The roof was painted black during the war, but it remained standing, resilient as ever. The story behind the roof mosaic If you look up at the top of the Royal Albert Hall, a large white mosaic of scientists and artists lines the hall roof. Major-General Scott, its architect, originally intended for it to be a sculptural mosaic but had to settle for a flat version due to budget constraints. There's also a message written along the roof of the Royal Albert Hall You'll have to squint to see this one. At the top of the hall's mosaic is a narrow white band covered in text. It reads: This Hall was erected for the advancement of the Arts & Sciences and works of industry of all nations in fulfilment of the intention of Albert Prince Consort. The site was purchased with the proceeds of the Great Exhibition of the year MDCCCLI. The first stone of the Hall was laid by Her Majesty Queen Victoria on the twentieth day of May MDCCCLXVII and it was opened by Her Majesty the twenty-ninth of March in the year MDCCCLXXI. Thine O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine. The wise and their works are in the hand of God. Glory be to God on high and on Earth peace. How many seats are in the Royal Albert Hall? It might interest you to know that the Royal Albert Hall can seat over 5,200 people. So, if you're planning to catch a show or book a tour through The London Pass®, make sure to pick your favourite spot. Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Steps The grand staircase at the back of Royal Albert Hall originally had a very straightforward name. The South Steps. However, they were understandably subjected to brutal London weather and the wear and tear of thousands of feet. So, they were desperately in need of an upgrade and they finally got one in 2004. Then, in 2013, they were renamed 'the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Steps', and the late Queen attended the naming ceremony. The cost of preservation The striking Henry Willis organ at the Royal Albert Hall originally cost 8,000 pounds to construct. However, the restoration that took place between 2002-2004 to preserve its grandeur that took place between 2002-2004 cost over a million pounds. The 'mushrooms' solving the acoustic problem Ironically, due to the unusual domed ceiling, the Royal Albert Hall had bad acoustics. Back in the 1960s, 135 fibreglass acoustic diffusers were hung from the top to solve the issue. They're commonly referred to as 'mushrooms.' And that's our list of Royal Albert Hall facts. Hope you enjoyed them! Why not take a closer look and book a tour?  Experience everything London has to offer with The London Pass®  Planning your London trip? With The London Pass®, you can explore big-name landmarks, local hotspots and epic tours, all on one pass, all for one price. Not only that, but you'll enjoy savings of up to 50%, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.   ✈️ Buy The London Pass® ✈️   
Dom Bewley
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What’s on in London this Bank Holiday weekend?

If you’re looking for what’s on in London this bank holiday weekend from the 23rd – 25th August, read on to make the most of this three day weekend. As the last bank holiday in the year, it's tradition that it goes off with a bang - and as the weather is set to hold, we can promise you lots of fun and lots of frolics if you follow our recommendations. From this Saturday - Monday (some even start on the Friday night!) you’ve got three days of some of the best events in the year, hosted in venues dotted around the city. With events for both adults and kids, there’s plenty to do, you just need to know where to find it... Notting Hill Carnival London’s famous carnival takes to the streets of Notting Hill once again for the annual event spread over two days. Celebrating its 50th year it’s a great weekend activity for both adults and families – and it doesn’t cost a penny to participate. Dispersed with large sound systems, play areas, Caribbean food stalls and arts and crafts, it’s a vibrant affair which draws people from around the city into Notting Hill borough. Catch the calypso and flotilla parade as it winds its way down from Great Western Road down to Ladbroke Grove. Make sure you plan your route in advance as some stations are closed and others with limited access – and make sure you’re good with crowds as it’s a popular occasion! BBC Good Food Festival The celebrated food festival takes over Hampton Court Palace this weekend for a gourmet feast! With well-known faces like presenters John Torode and Greg Wallace from Masterchef, to renowned chefs like Steve Groves and Gennaro Contaldo, it’s a great opportunity to explore a wide range of food, produce, watch the professionals in action and just have a great day out in general. Housed in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, it’s the perfect setting with the stunning royal residence as a backdrop. If you’ve got time, head inside and explore King Henry VIII’s famous Tudor kitchen which used to feed 600 men a day! SW4 Festival Something less family friendly, SW4 is a two day dance festival spread over the weekend in Clapham Common. Hosting world famous names like Laurent Garnier, Maya Jane Coles and Claude Vonstroke it’s a guaranteed banger of a weekend. From morning til night, make sure you’ve got comfy shoes and plenty of energy – there’s a full schedule of some of the best DJs on the scene so explore the stages and protect your ears, it’s going to be a non-stop party! Meantime Brewfest If you’re a fan of ales, beers and lagers, this festival is for you. A festival dedicated to the brewing of craft beers, Brewfest is back from 23rd – 25th, a three day extravaganza. In the beautiful setting of the Old Naval College in Greenwich, visitors can sample and taste over 150 beers with over 80 draft lines, not to mention bottled beers from around the globe, too. You can also take part in a beer and cheese tasting session in The Old Brewery for those who are interested in developing their culinary expertise. Teddy Bear’s Picnic A great one for the kids, take them out to Greenwich for a true teddy bear’s picnic. Get them involved in this fundraising childhood tradition, which involves a barbeque, fun interactive games, craft stalls and lots of activities for you and the kids to enjoy. Cuddly bears are a must – so make sure you bring your furry friends. Children’s tickets include a picnic and entertainment. The event is held at the Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice and all proceeds go to the charity. A great way to do your bit of good.
Vanessa Teo
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Is The London Pass worth it?

Before a trip to London, there are many decisions to be made – especially if you’re coming from further afield. You want to cost-effectively see and do as much as possible; visit all the typical London attractions and experience everything the city has to offer... But how? This usually comes with a price and usually a lengthy time-scale is required to make sure you can fit everything you have planned into your holiday. But that’s where The London Pass comes in. The London Pass is a sightseer’s saving grace. The answer to all your tourist needs, it will help you make the most out of your holiday – while helping you save money and time. We know that both time and money are precious when you are away, and there’s a limit to how much you can do. Our promise is to help you make the most of what’s available and give you a little extra at the end, too; making The London Pass well worth it, according to a satisfied London Pass Tripadvisor review. The way it works is this: the pass grants you free entry to over 60 top attractions in London. That means no extra money required to get into the most popular landmarks, museums and monuments in London. For instance, the Tower of London, no extra charge, Tower Bridge, no extra charge, Kensington Palace, no extra charge, London Zoo, you’ve guessed it, no extra charge - among many others! Too good to be true? Simply turn up to your chosen attraction and show your London Pass to the member of staff at the entrance or ticket barrier and they will let you straight through. At a number of attractions, the pass will also act as your VIP ticket in – so you can walk past the queues (which can be pretty long in peak months) with Fast Track Entry and save yourself a few hours of waiting. It’s that easy. In durations of 1, 2, 3, and 6 days you can chose the pass to most suit your trip. The longer the pass duration though, the more value for money you get. The 6 day pass works out at only £18 a day – which is the average price of just one London attraction. And let's be honest, you're planning on visiting more than one a day anyway! Actually, with the pass you can have your pick of more than 59 others for free (or realistically, as many as you can fit into 6 days!) The London Pass allows for flexible sightseeing, with the aim to give back to the sightseer. Not only does the pass grant you free entry into a number of London’s most popular attractions, but it also gives you a wide range of discounts and other offers, too, like reduced cinema tickets and bowling. If you really want to plan ahead, why not consider adding on a travelcard to The London Pass, too. This option is a great one to choose if you want to really explore the city. Valid from zones 1 - 6, it allows you unlimited journeys on the tube, buses and overgrounds for the duration of your pass – making sightseeing that extra bit easier. When it comes to planning your trip, we’ve thought of it all – we even chuck in a free guidebook, too. With over 160 pages (and over nine different languages) our guidebook lists all of the attractions included in the pass, as well as opening times, normal entry costs and address and directions. You’ll also find a map and tube map as well as top tips while you discover the city. Is The London Pass worth it? Yes! It’s tailor-made for the modern sightseer It’s an all-inclusive pass that allows you entry into over 60 of London’s top attractions You’ve got the option of adding on a travelcard to explore the city across London’s transport network It’s great for families, independent travellers, seasoned travellers, couples and small groups It promises to save you money and time at London’s top attractions granting you free and fast track entry at selected locations Why don't you check out our video to give you a flavour of how your trip to London might look like with The London Pass... Be inspired and make your trip one to remember!
Vanessa Teo

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